St. Louis Senator Jim Lembke says the way the Department of Transportation shrank by 1200 positions and 135 facilities truly was “bold” and aggressive. He now wants to study it to see if other state agencies can use the MODOT plan to get smaller.
Lembke says his goal is for state government to “right size,” and live within in its means. He does not identify any particular agencies he thinks can become smaller, but says none can be off the table.
He called Transportation Director Kevin Keith before Senate Governmental Accountability Committee to explain the plan and discuss its applicability to other agencies. Keith told the Senators there are parts of the plan that may be unique to MODOT.
Still Lembke says he will study the idea, noting that the legislature can prompt most state agencies to adjust using the appropriations process.